Chapter Text
She asked, her voice filled with resolve, "I would have to consult with a few people before I can answer."
Clotho nodded with a serene smile, responding, "Very well. You have a day to ponder upon this idea. After which, we would discuss the details of the trip."
"Thank you," Persia nodded, her smile small but appreciative.
As the sun dipped low behind the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over the landscape, Camp Half-Blood came into view. Nestled amidst the small hills blanketed with lush greenery, it seemed almost like a hidden paradise.
And it was, in these dire times.
Not many things have changed — or perhaps, everything has.
The most striking feature of Camp Half-Blood in such a time was the massive shield that enveloped the entire north shore of Long Island. Its icy blue hue shimmered in the fading light. This shield can only be seen by Persia and other than her, only one had the authority to grant permission inside the camp — her loyal friend, Annabeth.
Persia found her standing at the edge looking worried.
“Where have you been? How did you even disappear from the middle of the square?” She heard Annabeth demand as she followed her inside.
She gave a tiny reassuring smile at her friend, silencing her for sometime. When she had left, it had been morning; when she had returned, dusk was settling in. Her gaze flickered across the camp — although, it couldn’t be called a camp any longer. It had been turned into a hodgepodge village.
The cabins had been transformed into small houses for the elderly — most of whom were the parents of surviving demigods. One of the cabins had been transformed into a communal kitchen, another few had been changed to house several weapons and some more had turned into houses and granaries. Many of the cabins had to be broken down so they could use the land as fields and grow some crops to sustain them year long.
Many things have changed — So many that she hardly recognized the camp any longer.
Slowly, she traced her steps along the dusty path, bordered by uneven cobblestones. Amidst the swaying grass of the fields, she observed small figures darting and playing– all of whom were demigods they had managed to find and protect amidst the chaos in the outside world. Most of them were children of nymphs and minor gods. Even if they ran around, with their fragile giggles and sheltered smiles — and never laughing — they were so careful not to harm the crops that grew around them. Their awareness pierced her heart.
Children should not bear such burdens, should not grasp the significance of safeguarding the crops that sustained them.
With a heavy sigh, Persia retreated. She shook her head, making way towards the only cabin that had been left untouched — her father’s cabin. As she reached the cabin door, she pulled it open, a silent invitation for Annabeth to follow.
Taking a seat on the worn couch, Persia kicked off her shoes and sank into the cushions, her mind already consumed by the weight of the Fates' proposal. "Sia?" Annabeth's voice broke through her reverie, her expression etched with worry as she settled beside her friend.
Without hesitation, she poured out her thoughts, the words flowing freely from her lips, releasing the weight that had settled upon her. As the tension eased from her shoulders, she turned to Annabeth, seeking her counsel and thoughts on the matter.
Annabeth shifted uneasily, her gaze fixed on her. "I don't trust it," she whispered, her voice firm but laced with concern. "Time travel is... unpredictable. What if there are repercussions we can't foresee? What if it alters everything?"
She paused. Her gaze flitted between Annabeth and some unseen point in the distance, her own uncertainty mirrored in her eyes. "I understand your reservations," she murmured, her tone tinged with indecision. "But the opportunity... It's unprecedented. The chance to right wrongs — to change history."
Annabeth shook her head, "But at what cost? We can't simply plunge into the past without knowing the consequences. Don’t we at least owe ourselves some peace?”
"Peace?" She scoffed, unable to contain her frustration, hands gesturing agitatedly. "What peace, Annabeth? In which world? Are we talking about this wasted land where even the immortals are becoming extinct?"
Annabeth absorbed the weight of Persia's words in silence, the heaviness of the truth settling between them like a suffocating blanket. Finally, she spoke, her voice soft but laced with determination. "Perhaps seeking another perspective is wise."
“Who?”
"Nico," Annabeth suggested, the first name to come to mind. "Even Lord Hades can offer insight, perhaps."
Persia nodded thoughtfully, her gaze distant, worry etched into every line of her face. The uncertainty of their path forward loomed large.
